Maths Admissions Test | Mathematical Institute Skip to main content Search form Search Search Log in Members About Us Contact Us Travel & Maps Our Building Supporting Mathematics Alumni History Art and Oxford Mathematics News Vacancies Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Study Here Undergraduate Study Postgraduate Study Current Students Research Research Groups Case studies Faculty Books Outreach Posters Oxford Mathematics Alphabet Oxford Online Maths Club Oxford Maths Festival 2023 It All Adds Up Problem Solving Matters PROMYS Europe Oxfordshire Maths Masterclasses Maths Week England Outreach Information Mailing List People Key Contacts People list A Global Department Research Fellowship Programmes Professional Services Teams Events Conference Facilities Public Lectures & Events Departmental Seminars & Events Special Lectures Conferences Summer Schools Past Events Alumni newsletters Info for event organisers and attendees Home Study Here Undergraduate Study Maths Admissions Test Maths Admissions Test New for 2023 For MAT 2023, the admin of the test will be delivered by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). New information for schools, colleges, and test centres will be available on the central University website. The registration deadline is 29 September 2023, and the test date is 19 October 2023. Applicants for Computer Science or for Computer Science and Philosophy will attempt questions 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 for MAT 2023. There will no longer be a question 7. Update (June 2023) Schools and colleges can now register to be a test centre via the central University website. The way that candidates access the questions is changing for October 2023. Candidates will see the questions on a computer screen. Candidates will write their responses in a paper answer booklet, which will be scanned by their test centre. The mathematical content of the MAT, in terms of the syllabus and the format of the test, is unchanged for 2023. About the test Why is there a test? We can't interview all our applicants in the time available, so we shortlist around three applicants for every place to interview. To help us decide who to shortlist, we set the Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) which all applicants for Maths, Computer Science, or joint honours courses must take. There is no "pass" mark for the MAT; we use the information from the test, together with all the details of your UCAS application and information about school background to decide who to shortlist. What does the MAT test? The MAT aims to test the depth of mathematical understanding of a student in the fourth term of their A-levels (or equivalent) rather than a breadth of knowledge. It is set with the aim of being approachable by all students, including those without Further Mathematics A-level, and those from other educational systems (e.g. Baccalaureate and Scottish Highers). The MAT syllabus is based on the first year of A level Maths, and a few topics from the fourth term of A level Maths which we think students will have covered by the time of the test. How do I register? Please check back to this page later in the year for registration details. Can I take the TMUA instead? No. The Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) is used by several universities, but is not used by Oxford. We recommend that you check the course pages of the other universities you plan to apply to. Can I take STEP/ BMO/ IMO instead? No. Please note No calculators, formula sheets or dictionaries are permitted during the test. Further credit cannot be gained by attempting questions other than those appropriate to the degree applied for. Test Information Candidates should attempt five of the six questions, depending on the degree for which they are applying. Mathematics / Mathematics & Statistics, Mathematics & Philosophy applicants should attempt questions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Mathematics & Computer Science, Computer Science, Computer Science & Philosophy applicants should attempt questions 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 Question 1 is multiple choice, and contains 10 parts each worth 4 marks. Marks are given solely for the correct answers. Questions 2-6 are longer questions, each worth 15 marks, and candidates will need to show their working. Part marks are available for the longer questions. Marking FAQs How is the test marked? The MAT is marked by University of Oxford graduate students. For the multiple-choice questions, there are no marks available for working out. For the long questions, our markers will look carefully at what you've written and give you an appropriate number of marks following an agreed mark scheme. Do I get marks for working out? Yes, on questions 2-6 there are marks for working out. Do I have to use the method in the solutions document (or in the solutions video)? No- if you follow the instructions in the question and you do correct mathematics, then you should get the marks. Provided you've followed the instructions in the question and it's clear what you're doing, you should get the marks. Key dates 29 September 2023: MAT registration deadline 19 October 2023: Test date November 2023: Oxford shortlisting decisions sent to applicants. January 2024: Final Oxford decisions sent to applicants. MAT scores sent to Oxford applicants automatically. MAT livestream The MAT livestream is a weekly online event talking about maths problems and discussing problem-solving strategies. MAT Flashcards A set of flashcards for revising the MAT syllabus. How to prepare for the MAT The video contains advice about the MAT. The MAT syllabus contains the mathematics that we expect you to know by the time of the test. For practice resources, see the Oxford MAT Livestream. You might also like the following resources to practice problem-solving; Underground Mathematics NRICH Advanced Problem Solving modules STEP support programme The AMSP organises Problem Solving Matters, hosted at universities around the UK. This problem-solving course aims to help students prepare for university mathematics. MAT past papers The table below contains past papers and solutions, as well as general feedback on the admissions round for each year from 2010 onwards. Three averages are given for each year; $\mu_1$ is the average score of all Oxford applicants for Maths, Maths & Stats, and Maths & Philosophy, $\mu_2$ is the average score of those applicants who were shortlisted for interview, and $\mu_3$ is the average score of those applicants who were made offers. Similar statistics for Maths & Computer Science, Computer Science, and Computer Science & Philosophy applicants are available on the Computer Science departmental website. Please note that the syllabus for the MAT was updated for the 2018 test; the current syllabus is available here. The Notes for the past papers are intended for candidates using the past papers to prepare for MAT 2021. They mostly refer to syllabus changes. Note that there are 18 papers listed below, which is far more than we would expect any applicant to attempt. Test paper Solutions ($\mu_1$, $\mu_2$, $\mu_3$) Feedback Notes MAT 2022 Solutions 2022 (48.3, 65.2, 71.5) Feedback 2022 MAT 2021 Solutions 2021 (51.1, 69.5, 73.5) Feedback 2021 MAT 2020 Solutions 2020 (57.9, 75.2, 81.7) Feedback 2020 Notes 2020 MAT 2019 Solutions 2019 (44.9, 63.6, 69.3) Feedback 2019 MAT 2018 Solutions 2018 (50.8, 67.1, 72.9) Feedback 2018 MAT 2017 Solutions 2017 (51.3, 68.7, 73.6) Feedback 2017 Notes 2017 MAT 2016 Solutions 2016 (50.3, 66.7, 73.1) Feedback 2016 Notes 2016 MAT 2015 Solutions 2015 (43.7, 56.3, 62.7) Feedback 2015 Notes 2015 MAT 2014 Solutions 2014 (48.4, 63.1, 71.5) Feedback 2014 Notes 2014 MAT 2013 Solutions 2013 (44.8, 54.2, 60.6) Feedback 2013 Notes 2013 MAT 2012 Solutions 2012 (52.1, 63.0, 68.2) Feedback 2012 Notes 2012 MAT 2011 Solutions 2011 (50.3, 63.3, 71.0) Feedback 2011 Notes 2011 MAT 2010 Solutions 2010 (49.0, 61.4, 69.3) Feedback 2010 Notes 2010 MAT 2009 Solutions 2009 (51.3, 61.2, 70.5) Notes 2009 MAT 2008 Solutions 2008 (58.7, 68.0, 77.0) Notes 2008 MAT 2007 Solutions 2007 (56.9, 63.0, 75.2) Notes 2007 MAT Specimen 1 Solutions Specimen 1 Notes Specimen 1 MAT Specimen 2 Solutions Specimen 2 Notes Specimen 2 Additional Multiple-Choice Questions In 2020, 2021, and 2022, the department organised a multiple-choice test in the style of Q1 on the MAT. This was arranged for a small number of candidates in each year who had been shortlisted without a MAT score, and the test was administered just before interviews. The test papers and solutions are available in the table below for those who wish to see more multiple-choice questions in the style of Q1 on the MAT. Test paper Solutions Test 2022b Solutions 2022b Test 2021b Solutions 2021b Test 2020b Solutions 2020b Syllabus changes in 2018 Due to A-level reform in the UK, and specifically syllabus reform of A-level Mathematics, the MAT syllabus was updated in 2018. In order to reflect the new syllabus of AS-level Mathematics, we removed the remainder theorem, radians, and the trapezium rule from the syllabus. We added combinations and binomial probabilities, derivative of $e^{kx}$, differentiation from first principles, graphs of $\log_{a}(x)$. Note for teachers: We will continue to include sequences and series on the MAT syllabus, including: arithmetic and geometric progressions and their sums, convergence condition for infinite geometric progressions. As such, if there is flexibility in when a teacher is covering sequences and series, we would recommend that students are taught this material either at the end of year 12 or at the beginning of year 13 (prior to October half-term). Videos of MAT solutions MAT 2017 MAT 2016 MAT 2022 in 10 minutes or less A quick look at the solutions for MAT 2022. Video of Next: Our admissions tutors use MAT scores together with information from the UCAS application to decide who to shortlist for interview. Interviews A guide to interviews for Maths at Oxford. Please contact us for feedback and comments about this page. Last updated on 31 Jul 2023 10:24. © Mathematical Institute Website Accessibility Statement Website Privacy Policy & Cookies Statement sfy39587stp18
